Plans for $300 million Turnpike Upset Eastern Oklahoma County Residents

Residents of eastern Oklahoma County know what they’re facing as the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority has unveiled its plans for construction of a 21-mile toll road linking Interstate 40 with the I-44 turnpike.

Plans for the $300 million turnpike link were unveiled Thursday night to residents of Jones, Luther and Choctaw. The Turnpike Authority said about 100 homes would have been purchased and moved for construction with completion of the toll road set for 2020.

“We have said from the start and we mean it, that when we make right of way acquisitions, the Turnpike Authority will be very generous in their offers that they provide to these people,” said Jack Damrill, a spokesman for the OTA.

“It’s a ripoff,” said one resident after the meeting.

“Somebody’s making a lot of money off this,” said another.

“They’ve done this in a very clandestine way,” offered one man.

As News 9’s Steve Shaw found out, the promise of generous offers doesn’t appease angry residents.

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